X Factor: Duke men's basketball vs. Florida

Duke’s home win against Maine last Saturday was marked by the debuts of star freshmen Jayson Tatum and Marques Bolden. But with junior Grayson Allen and freshmen Frank Jackson sidelined for Saturday's contest, Tuesday’s matchup against No. 21 Florida at Madison Square Garden will be a true test of the fifth-ranked Blue Devils’ chemistry. The Blue Zone takes a look at a player from each team who could be the difference-maker in the game:

Duke: Guard Grayson Allen

After averaging 21.6 points per game last year and being named the 2016-17 ACC Preseason Player of the Year, Allen is not off to the start that Blue Devil fans envisioned. The junior guard is averaging 17.1 points per game so far but is shooting just 37.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range. Allen has also yet to play a regular-season game with five-star freshmen Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles and Marques Bolden, who have all been dealing with early-season leg injuries.

While Tatum and Bolden saw action Saturday in a 94-55 win against Maine, Allen, who had been playing through a nagging toe injury, sat out to rest. If Allen is healthy enough to play Tuesday, it will be interesting to see if the time off and increased star power around him will elevate his game. Although the scoring trio of Allen, Tatum and sophomore guard Luke Kennard is formidable on paper, the Gators present a litmus test of how a healthier Duke team can mesh together.

Florida: Guard KeVaughn Allen

With Florida taking on the Blue Devils on a neutral court in the Jimmy V Classic, the matchup of Allen vs. Allen will be an intriguing one to follow. KeVaughn Allen is averaging 12.4 points per game on 41.4 percent shooting and has the potential to take advantage of an ailing Duke team to lead the Gators to an upset victory.

The 6-foot-2 sophomore has scored just 14 total points in the Florida's last two games and needs to prove that he can still be a reliable scorer against a tougher opponent in Duke. If he can get back on track against the Blue Devils, Allen could wind up up being the Gators’ difference-maker.